This section provides legal support to the City Council during open and closed sessions, individual Councilmembers and their staff, the Council President’s Office, and the Rules and Audit Committees. It also handles legal service requests from Council Offices that fall outside the scope of other Civil Advisory sections.

The team serves as general counsel to the Housing Authority and Your Safe Place, and advises several departments and offices, including the City Clerk, Independent Budget Analyst, City Auditor, Redistricting Commission, Office of Government Affairs, and the Homelessness Strategies and Solutions Department.

It also supports the Civil Service Commission in meetings and hearings on employment matters, where the appointing authority is typically represented by the Litigation Division.

Environment & Land Use Section advises the City’s Environmental Services Department, Storm Water Department, Development Services Department, Planning Department, and on city-wide energy management and efficiency projects. The Section advises on issues related to solid waste, including City solid waste facilities and City-provided refuse collection, recycling, the City’s asbestos, lead, and mold program, municipal and industrial storm water flood control and water quality regulations, and related code enforcement. They work on initiatives such as the City’s Zero Waste Plan and Climate Action Plan, and interact with government agencies, such as the California Coastal Commission, California Public Utilities Commission, San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, and San Diego County Air Pollution Control District.

The Section also advises on land use issues, and assists the City with all aspects of public and private development in the City, including matters relating to land use entitlements, historical resources, telecommunication facilities, building code, community planning, housing projects, and the associated environmental reviews, including compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Multiple Species Conservation Program (MSCP), and the state and federal Endangered Species Act.

This section provides legal advice on the construction, operation and maintenance of City infrastructure and public utilities, including the water and wastewater systems and the City’s 3,000 mile transportation system, all among the largest in California. The Section advises on Community Parking Districts, parking meters, and other parking-related matters. The Section also provides legal advice related to the construction, maintenance, and repair of City facilities, often advising on complex public works contracts, grant funding, state prevailing wage laws, contract disputes, and other Municipal contracting matters.

HPU is dedicated to ensuring that housing in San Diego is safe, fair, and livable. HPU takes a focused approach to addressing persistent code violations, substandard rental housing conditions, unfair business practices, and situations where there may be a pattern or practice of violating the Tenant Protection Ordinance or the Short-Term Residential Occupancy Ordinance.

Learn more about the Housing Protection and Civil Code Compliance Unit (HPU)

This section advises on a variety of matters, including the American with Disabilities Act, and the California Public Records Act, assisting all City departments on compliance with these complex areas of law. This Section also assists City staff in Libraries, Parks and Recreation, Arts & Culture, Special Events, and the Local Enforcement Agency (LEA). Deputy City Attorneys in this section are well versed in a variety of areas including animal services, right of entry permits, public contracting, matters involving Park Rangers, sidewalk vending, and joint use agreements.

This section advises on a variety of matters, and numerous City departments. Public Services advises the Purchasing & Contracting Department (including Equal Opportunity Contracting) on matters related to procurement of goods, services, and consultants. Public Services also advises the Departments of Information Technology, Performance & Analytics, Communications, and the Fleet Operations section of the General Services Department. Attorneys in the Public Services Section focus on issues including the use of social media, data management, intellectual property, digital equity, emergency communications, Municipal contracting, and application of the Living Wage Ordinance.

The Public Safety Unit advises the Police Department, Fire-Rescue Department, including Lifeguards, and the Office of Emergency Services, on public safety issues such as constitutional law, use of technology, mutual aid, grant funding, compliance with state and federal law, brush management, Fire Code enforcement, and Police-Regulated Businesses. The attorneys in this Section appear in Superior Court and administrative hearings related to public safety issues or labor and employment matters.

This section provides advice and legal support to the Council, Mayor's Office, and various City departments, including Economic Development and the City Treasurer, regarding real property, airports, local economic development programs, redevelopment wind-down functions, and public finance, securities, and disclosure issues. The Section provides assistance with the creation and ongoing administration of assessment districts, financing districts, and prepares contracts and evaluates issues related to the City’s administration of federal funding programs, including Community Development Block Grant funds, as well as local business incentive programs.

The Section also advises on the redevelopment Successor Agency’s implementation of the Long-Range Property Management Plan for non-housing assets and the City’s implementation of the Affordable Housing Master Plan for housing assets, including numerous new affordable housing projects, and assists with the completion of new bond issuances and the refunding of existing bond obligations, resulting in considerable cost savings on public debt for significant capital projects, in addition to advising on matters related to the adoption and implementation of the City’s annual budget.

The Gun Violence Response Unit works collaboratively with the San Diego Police Department to reduce gun violence. Attorneys in the Unit file petitions on behalf of the Police Department seeking Gun Violence Restraining Orders when someone poses a significant danger of personal injury to themselves or another by possessing a firearm or ammunition. In addition to appearing in Superior Court, attorneys in the Unit handle appellate matters and advise the Police Department on search warrants, firearms destruction petitions, implementation of firearms relinquishment laws, and other matters related to firearms. The Unit also leads the San Diego Countywide Gun Relinquishment Task Force and coordinates with partner agencies on cross-jurisdictional cases and best practices. Finally, the Unit provides training and technical assistance for other agencies, cities, and counties throughout California seeking to implement a gun violence restraining order program in their region.

The San Diego City Attorney’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement (ACE) Unit pursues public interest causes of action on behalf of the People of the State of California under the Unfair Competition Law, including consumer privacy, predatory lending, and unsafe and dangerous products. The ACE Unit enforces laws that protect consumers, employees, and the environment, and advocates for change when existing laws fall short. Through its own litigation and by collaborating with others inside and outside government, the ACE Unit protects public health and safety, restores environmental quality, and sustains economic vitality.

Learn more about the Affirmative Civil Enforcement (ACE) Unit

General Litigation Unit prepares and defends civil actions on behalf of the City in state and federal courts. Each attorney assigned to the General Litigation Unit handles a significant case load defending the City of San Diego, and City Departments. Each attorney is also responsible for appeals arising from assigned civil cases.

The General Litigation Unit's caseload includes police false arrest and excessive force cases, personal injury cases, property damage cases, dangerous condition cases, motor vehicle accidents, indemnity claims, claims related to funding and revenue sources such as City taxes and fees, employment cases alleging discrimination, retaliation, harassment or unpaid wages, proceedings before the Civil Service Commission or Cal OSHA, constitutional claims including legal challenges to City ordinances, resolutions, actions and policies, and cases challenging the City’s compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Brown Act, and the California Public Records Act.

The Land Use, Writs, and Appeals Unit prepares and defends civil actions on behalf of the City in state and federal court, including challenges based on the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), eminent domain, constitutional issues related to the use of land, real estate development, failure to comply with the Municipal Code or City procedures, and land use-related decisions by the City Council, Planning Commission, and City staff. In addition to land use related cases, the Unit handles a wide range of cases, including but not limited to Proposition 218 challenges; pension/retirement claims; pre- and post-election challenges; validation actions; declaratory relief actions; and Code of Civil Procedure section 1085 and 1094.5 writs. The Unit handles all land use appeals and will also handle or assist with any writs or appeals from cases deriving from other Litigation Units.

Workers’ Compensation Unit works closely with the Risk Management Department to provide legal advice on a wide range of issues, from interpretation of legislative changes, to operational decisions regarding benefits and medical care. In addition to its advisory role, the unit handles all aspects of litigation at the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, including trials, hearings, liens, death benefits, motions, and appeals. The Unit also recovers workers’ compensation expenditures from third parties in subrogation litigation.

This unit is charged with the responsibility of screening and reviewing requests from criminal complaints each month from law enforcement agencies. More than 1,000 criminal complaints are filed each month in Superior Court. Victims of crime are assisted by our Victim Services Coordinators who guide victims through the criminal case process.

The unit promotes justice and protects the people of San Diego by aggressively and fairly prosecuting those who violate the law. This unit is responsible for processing, negotiating, and trying all cases to which defendants plead not guilty. Trial deputies handle trials, various hearings such as probation revocation hearings, and restitution hearings, as well as arraignment and trial readiness. Driving under the influence of drugs and drug and alcohol combo cases are prosecuted by a specialized team of experienced deputies who vertically handle these cases throughout each step of the criminal process. The unit steadfastly protects the rights of crime victims by obtaining restitution orders and making San Diego a safer community for everyone.

The Domestic Violence an Sex Crimes Unit handles misdemeanor cases of domestic violence, elder abuse, animal abuse, sexual battery, stalking, and child abuse, including neglect, molestation, and statutory rape. This unit was designated as a state-of-the-art program by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, which lauded the unit’s innovative approach to prosecuting domestic violence cases, with or without the victim’s participation.

To prevent family violence from escalating and perpetuating over generations, this unit focuses on early prevention at the misdemeanor level, coupled with a coordinated community response to protect victims and provide information on safety plans. Our Deputy City Attorneys handle all aspects of a case from the time a report is received until a resolution is reached, and they also work closely with Your Safe Place – The San Diego Family Justice Center, to ensure victims of domestic violence are provided information on all services necessary to keep them safe.

For information or questions about criminal cases being handled by the Domestic Violence Unit, please call 619-533-5544 or email CityAttyCrimInfo@sandiego.gov.

Learn more about the Domestic Violence & Sex Crimes Unit

This Unit was created to vertically prosecute complex criminal cases. Cases are submitted and reviewed for prosecution, and then handled from arraignment to sentencing by experienced prosecutors in the office. The Unit is responsible for prosecuting all cases involving charges of firearms offenses, hate crimes, vehicular manslaughter, and those that run unlawful cannabis delivery services. The Unit also handles cases involving First Amendment issues, and other uniquely complex or sensitive cases by obtaining restitution orders and making San Diego a safer community for everyone.

This unit is responsible for writs and appeals. Most appeals are handled in the San Diego Superior Court Appellate Department, but it is not unusual for Appellate deputies to practice in the Fourth District Court of Appeal, and to a lesser extent, in the California Supreme Court and the federal courts. The unit has participated in published opinions at all levels of the state courts. In addition, the unit writes and argues motions and writs at the pre-trial, trial, and post-trial stage. Some examples are demurrers, motions to suppress evidence, and writs of mandate. The Appellate Unit also provides legal research support to the other units.

The Deputies in this unit are also known as "Neighborhood Prosecutors", in cooperation with the San Diego Police Department, other agencies, and the community, they work aggressively and creatively to address quality-of-life crimes. These crimes include trespass, graffiti, vandalism, and chronic substance use. Deputy City Attorneys work in targeted neighborhoods side-by-side with police officers and community members on problem-solving initiatives.

The San Diego City Attorney’s Office created the Community Justice Initiative (CJI). CJI gives people who commit low-level misdemeanors a second chance. Participants can earn a dismissal of their criminal conviction by completing community service. Additionally, participants have access to community-based resources.

The Deputies also practice in Behavioral Health Court, VTC, Drug Court, the Sex Trafficking Education and Prevention Program (STEPP), the Beach Area Community Court, and Homeless Court.

The Prosecution Operations Unit plays a vital role in supporting the Criminal and Community Justice Division by managing case data and preparing reports. Additionally, it serves as the records management coordinator for the Division. The unit is responsible for recruiting personnel and coordinating training efforts across the Division. Working closely with prosecutors, law enforcement, and court personnel, the unit aims to streamline workflows and enhance the efficiency and integrity of prosecutorial operations. Its efforts are essential for ensuring that the Division operates smoothly and effectively.